Clutch.



Si I. PRESCUTT. CLUTCH. APAPLIGATION FILED APR. 13,1912.

Patented Jn.. 7, 1913.

U i TE @STAT f SYDNEY I. PRESCGTT, F BROOKLYN, NEW STGR/K.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters' Patent.

Patenteddan. '2'9 3,91%.

Application filed April 13, 1912. Serial No. 690,555.

used in the driving mechanism of motor cars or automobiles.

`r Two general types of clutches designed particularly for use on motor cars have heretofore been in common use. One type includes a female cone clutch member carried by and rotating with or forming a part of the flywheel of an internal combustion motor, and also includes a cooperating male cone clutch member rotatable with the transl mission shaft and movable in and out of engagementI with the other clutch member. In clutches of this type, it has been customary to provide means, such for instance as a plurality of spring pressed plungers,

radially'mounted in the male cone clutch member, for permitting a progressively decreasing relative slip of the clutch memlnars as they are brought into engagement. rlhe other type includes a series of friction dis rs alternately carried by a driving clutch member lwhich derives motion fronran internal combustion motor, and by a driven clutch member which is adapted to rotate with a transmission shaft. These disks are brought 5 into lengagement by means of a. spring designed to permit a. gradually decreasing slip of the disks as the clutch members are brought into engagement. In both types, however, there can be no slip after the clutch i@ members are in full engagement. Tl e driving friction must be suiieient to transmit the lmaximum power of the motor, without any slip oit' the clutch. members; otherwise, control of motion of the car under .maximum power and maximum load would be lost.

It is well known that the power ot an internal combustion motor is delivered to the transmission shaft by a series of blows due to the successive explosions occurring in the motor, and that these blows are transmitted through the entire driving mechanism g, that is to say, through the clutch, the transmission gearing, the universal joint or joints, the propeller shaft, the differential gearing, and finally to the tires of the driving wheels. lt is well known, also, that this action of the motor results in excessive wear andtenr upon the entire transmission mechanism and tires, and that ,it sometimes results in de rangement or breakage ot one or more parts of the transmission mechanism. it is well known, also, that an internal combustion engine must be running at con`si flenible speed before it canbe clutched to the driving mechanism of a motor car.

The clutches heretofore known are intended to permit the motor to pick up the load and start the car without stalling or stopping the motor, out the load on. the motor is not confined to the initial load.; that to say, the load due to the starting of the car. Vlihen a car is ruiming at .slow or mode ate speed, and an increase oi speed is desired, the throttle is opened to admit more gas to the motor cylinders. This result-s in a sudden increase in the torce of the blows delivered by the exploding gas to the transmission mechanism. n ordinary clutch connecting thev motor and thetransnission mechanism is incapable of eliminating the, shock due to this sudden increase ot tot-cm,

because its men'ibers are in full engagement at the time, and when in full engagement cannot slip under maximum power and load, and consequently cannot slip under lower power or lighter load. The manipulation of the change speed gearingis a further cause of shock to the transmission gearing and driving tires. Excessive shock to the transmitting mechanism and driving tires is sometimes due to other causes which need not. bc mentioned herein.

lleretoiore, various devices have been proposed for installation on sha't't line, the purpose of which is to absorb the shock of a sudden change in the relative speed of the driving and driven shaftmounted in alinement. To include such a device in the transmission mechanism of a motor car driven by an internal combustion motor is to add a new element to transmission train or system already complicated.

The main object. of the present invention is to simplify the transmission mechanism of a motor ear driven by an internal combustion motor: and at the same time to provide nuans for eliminating the excessive stresses set up in the various elements of the transmission mechanism and in the driving tires by the shock due to the explosion of gas in the motor.

A. further object is to pro-vide an autoioo matic clutch having three distinct functions; first, to transmit motion from a motor to a transmission shaft which in turn transi mits motion to the other elements of the transmission mechanism; second, to absorb the shock due to the gas explosions whenever the same is suddenly applied or suddenly increased, so that the entire train of transmission mechanism and the driving tires are relieved from excessive stresses; third, to permit the motor to make several revolutions after the clutch members have been brought into positive driving engagement, the load being gradually picked up during these several revolutions against gradually increasing resistance, so that m the event of opening the throttle when the car is in motion the motor is permitted to acquire greater speed and consequently greater power befo-re it becomespositively locked to the transmission mechanism.

A further object is the production of a device in which the above mentioned functions vare performed,l said device involvingv the least number of elements possible to employ and accomplish the desired end', so that the initial cost of the transmission mechanism is reduced, the cost of maintenance is reduced, the -wear and tear upon the entire transmission mechanism is reduced, and the efficiency of the motor and the transmission mechanlsm driven thereby is increased.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate thesame or like parts, Figure l is a sectional view of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, andFig. 2 is a sectional view of a modified form of the structure shown in Fig.,l 1.

The device selected to illustrate the invenl l tion constitutes a concrete embodiment of the invention, but -it'is to' be understood that 5o the various elements of the structure shown and described may be varied in construction within wide limits, and that'the invention, therefore, is not lto be restricted tothe precise details of the scribed.

In the device selected to illustrate the i11 vention, 1 indicates a mot-or driven`member carrying an annular frictional driving surface' A2, which surface is the inner periphery of a female cone clutch member 3. The motor driven member is supported and rotated by means of a drivingshaft t having a tail 5 projecting beyond the hub of the motor driven member. This n1otor`-driven member 1 and driving shaft vmay be restructure shown and dei spectively the flywheel and the crank shaft of an internal combustion motor, not shown but located at the leftof the line M-M. A transmission shaft is provided which is adapted to transmit motion from the motor driven member 1 to the transmission gearing and other transmission mechanism, not shown but located at the right' of the line T-G. This shaft has a squared end 6, and a cylindrical end ,7 extending to the transmission gearing. There is further provided a clutch member 8 interposed between the motor driven member 1 and the transmission shaft 6-7. This clutch member is pro vided with an annular frictional driving surface 9 adapted to coperate with the frictional driving surface 2 before referred to. This surface 9 is the outer surface of a ring 10 of leather or other suitable material, said ring being securely fastened to the 35 rim 11 of a member 12 located in close proximity to the motor driven member 1 before referred to. This member 12, with the ring 10, forms a male cone clutch member, and the frictional driving contact of the surfaces 2 and 9 is suicient when fully engagedto cause the clutch member 8 to be rotated without slip under any load. For the reason that the surfaces 2 and 9 operate primarily to transmit motion from the motor driven member 1 to the transmission shaft 6-7, and for the further reason that the clutch member has additional frictional driving surfaces, said surfaces 2 and 9 may be termed primary '.-frictional driving sur- 100 faces. f'

The clutch member 8 includes the member 12 and a sleeve 13 extending. rearwardly from the center of the member 12 and at right angles to the diametrical planes of the' surface 9, and the member 12 is held in position to positively rotate with the reduced end 14 of the sleeve 13, by means of a series of bolts 15. The reduced end' of the sleeve is journaled upon the projecting tail 5 of the driving shaft. This is for the purpose of permitting longitudinal movement of the clutch member to throw it in and out of engagement with the motor driven member. The sleeve 13 is further provided with 115 a 4bearing 16 secured to its rear end by a series of bolts 17. The shaft 6-,-7 projects through this bearing and is adapted to rotate therein; and the bearing is adapted to move longitudinally on the shaft 6 7.

The sleeve 13 is provided with an internal thread 18, the operating face of which constitutes a secondary frictional surface carried by the clutch member. There is further provided what may be termed a transmission member, consisting of a Worm 19 having an external thread 20 the operating `face of which.. constitutes what may be termed a secondary frictional surface. This secondary surface copcrates with the tion, when the desired increased speed is reached, in precisely the same manner as before. If the car suddenly reaches a heavygrade, where it is necessary to change the gears in order to use the full power of the motor for driving the increased load, the device again automatically comes into action, relieving the transmission mechanism and tires of the excessive stresses caused by the sudden change of'gearing and moto speed, and, if the full power of the motor is required to cause the car to climb the grade, the transmission member or worm will remain in its forward position and ositively drive the transmission shaft an car until the applied power is reduced. It will Athen return to its normal osition.

Means are provided f) bodily movement of the clutch member toward and away from the primary frictional v surface 2, in order to throw the clutch member in and out, of enga ement with the motor driven member. T is means consists in a spring 23 interposed between the hub of the motor driven member and the end of the sleeve 13.l This springenormally operates to move the clutch mem r bodily rearwardly, and to hold the primary frictional driving surfaces 2 and 9 in contact. A screw plug 24 is threaded in the sleeve-13 near its forward end. The object of this screw plug is to close an opening through which oil or other lubricant may be introduced into the 'interior of the sleeve. A small quantity of lubricant within the sleeve` 13 will be carried to Iall the wearing surfaces within the sleeve by the rotation of said sleeve, and since itcannot escape from the sleeve, the necessity for frequent lubrication is eliminated.

Manually operated means are provided for throwing the primary frictional driving surfaces out of engagement. This means consists of a forked lever 25 straddling the shaft 6 7 at the rear and bearing against the end of the bearing 16." This lever is fulcrumed at 26 to a boss formed on a bearing 27 which forms a part of the transmission gearing box not fully shown. The fork has a lever 28 extending upwardly to any convenient posit-ion. A forward movement of this lever results in forcing the clutch member 8 bodily7 forward to disengage the primary frictional driving surfaces 2 and 9.

In the modified device shown in Fig. 2, a

. sleeve 29, corresponding in other respects to the sleeve 13, is formed integrally with a member 30 carrying a leather ring 31, which ring correspondsm all respects with, the

or producing a.

ring`10. The outer surface 32k of the ring 31 engages the frictional surface 33 of the motor driven member 34 similar to the motor In carrying the present invention into efj i fect, relating as it does to a single device` capable of automatically performing the three distinct flmctions hereinbefore 'idpscribed, thev resultant device is simpler and less expensive than any practical device heretofore known which is capable of performing either one of the functions above mentioned. Moreover, the device used to illustrate the invention consists in a combination of v coperating elements directly connected with the source of power and high speed member of the transmission train, relleves the entire transmission mechanism and the driving ftres from excessive shock the source of which lies in the motor, and further, permits the motor to acquire greater speed 'andjfgreater power as it picks u its load. ,klliej'fresults in increasing the urability and-the efficiency of the power system as a whole. c

In view of the foregoing, a detailed description of the operation iof the device is deemed unnecessary and is therefore omitted in the interest 'of brevity.

what is claimed is: I f

1. The combination with a. motor driven of a transmission shaft', a clutch member interposed between said motor driven member and said shaft and having a primary frictional driving surface coperating withthe frictional driving surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged therewith to cause the clutch member to be rotated without slip under any load, said clutch member also having a secondary frictional surface, a transmission member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having a coperating secondary frictional surface, a pressure device engaging said clutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold the secondary surfaces in contact under sufficient pressure to prevent slipping of said surfaces under normal load and adapted to permit a relative slip of said surfaces for a plurality ofiturns under a load abovev normal, and means vfor producing a bodily movement of the clutch member toward and away from thefmotor driven member. p v

2. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission Shaft, a clutch member interposed between said motor driven member tional driving surface coperatili'g with the incassi iwimional driving surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged there with to cause the clutch memberl to be rotated without slip under any load, said clutch member also having a .secondary fric-tional surface, a transmission member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having a cooperating secondary frictional surface, a pressure device engaging said clutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold the secondary surfaces in Contact; under sufficient pressure to prevent slipping of said surfaces under norl l and adapted to permit arelative surfaces fo a plurality 'of turns l ad above normal, a common supi for the motor driven member and the end of the clutch member, and for producing a bodily movement of clutch member toward and away from motor driven member.

The combination with a motor driven member baiting a frictionai driving surface, of a driving shaft supporting, rotating and projecting beyond said motor driven mein be, a transmissionshaft, a clutch membei interposed between said motor driven mein ber and said shaft and slidably and rotatably supported on the projecting end oi said driving shaft and having a primary frictional driving surface coperating with the frictional driving surface of the\ n'yf'itor driven member when fully engaged there with to cause the clutch member to be rotated Without slip under any load, 'said clutch member also having a secondary fric tional surface, a transmission member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having a secondary frictional surface coperating' the secondary surface of the l er, a4 pressure device engaging .I iii( 'de clutch member and transmission member .iaptod to hold the secondary. surfaces in t. t under sutlicient pressure to prevent slipping of said. surfaces under normal load and adapted to permit a relative slip of said surfaces for a. plurality of turns under a load above normal, and means for producing a bodil.ymovcment of the clutch member toward and away from the motor driven member.

The combination with a motor driven member havin a frictional driving surface, of a drivin@w shaft zmpporting, rotating and Vjcctir beyond said motor driven memin' 'sion shaft, a clutch member o ed bei.. v ,en said motor driven memid shaft and slitta" -and rotaported on the projecting end of dr. ng shaft and having a. primary fictional drivin surface codperatmg with the frictional driving' surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged there with to cause the clutch member to be rotated without slip underany load, said clutch member also having a seconda-ry frictional surface, a transn'iission member rot-atable with the transmission shaft and havmg a secondary frictional surface coperating with the secondary friotional surface of t-he clutch member, a pressure device engaging said clutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold the secondary' surfaces in contact underf sufiicient pressure to prevent slipping of said surfaces under normal load and adapted t-o permit the transmission member to move against progressively increasing pressure i' load above normal to permit a rela- *Uc slip of said secondary surfaces corresponding to a plurality of turns, and means for producing bodily movement of the clutch member toward and away from the motor driven member.A

5. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission shaft, a clutch member interposed between said motor driven member v*and said shaft and having a primary frictional driving surface cooperating with the frictional driving surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged therewith to causethe clutch member to be rotated Without slip under any load, said clutch member also having a seconda ry frictional surface, a transmission member r tatable with the transmission shaft and having a cooperating secondary frictional sur` the clutch member toward and away from the motor driven member.

6. The combination With a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission' shaft, a clutch member including a rim of larve diameter carrying a primary frictional surface coperating with the. frictional driving surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged therewith to cause the clutch member to be rotated Without slip under any load', said clutch member also having a sleeve extending at right ang. es from the plane of said rim and along the axis of the clutch member. said sleeve being provided with an in tei-nal secondary frictional surface, a transmission member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having a coperating .se/C- ondary frictional surface, a compression spring engaging said clutch member and iloy said transmission member and adapted'toV hold the secondary surfaces in contact under sufiicien't pressure to prevent slipping of said surfaces under normal load and adapted to'permit the transmission member to move against the progressively increasing pressure of the spring under load above normal to permit a relative slip of the secondary surfaces corresponding to a plurality of turns, and means for producing al bodily movement of the clutch member toward and away from the motor'A driven member. f

7. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission shaft, a"'clii't`ch member interposed between said motor driven member and said shaft and having a primary frictional driving surface coperating with the frictional driving surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged therevwith to cause the clutch member to be rotatedwithout .slip luiider any load, said clutch member also having an internal thread, a transmission. .member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having an external thread engaging the-internal thread ofthe clutch member, a pressure device engaging said clutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold said threads in Contact under sufficient pressure to prevent Slipping of said threads under normal loadand adapted to permit a relative slip of saidA threads for a plurality of turns under a load abovenormal, and means for producing a bodily movement of the clutch member `toward and away from the motor driven member.

8. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving sui-tace, of a transmission shaft, a clutch member interposed between said motor. driven mein- Yber and 'said shaft-and having a primary frietional driving surface coperatingwitli the` frictional driving -surfaceof the motor driven member when fully engaged -therewith 'to cause thejclutch memberto be ro- -ta'ted withoutcsliirunder any load, said clutch member also having an internal thread, a transmission member rotatable with the .transmission shaft and movable on said transmission, shaft in one direction only from normal posit-ion and having an external thread engaging the internal thread of the clutch member, a pressure device engaging said rclutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold said threads in contact under sufficient pressure to preventslipping of said threads under normal load and adapted to permit a rela- .tive slip of Vsaid threads for a plurality of i turns under a load above normal, and ine .nfor producing a bodily movement of the clutch member toward and away yfrom the motor. driven member.

tating and projecting beyond said motor driven member, a clutch member including an internally.threadedsleeve having an internal abutment, the forward end of said sleeve being slidably and rotatably supportrear end of the sleeve, a Imember carried by the sleeve and adapted forengagement with the motor ,driven member, ajtransmission central square aperture, a transmission shaft having a square endvslidably engaging the worm aperture and having a cylindrical end projecting rearwardly through the bearing, means supported by and rotatable with the ber for producing a bodily` movement of the clutch member on the driving and transinto engagement with the motor driven member, and means adapted to engage the exterior of the bearing for producing a bodily'movement of the clutch member in the opposite direction. i l

l0. The combination with a. motor Hywheel, of a'driving shaft supporting, rot-atu ing-and .projecting beyond said flywheel, a clutch member including a sleeve having a iight-hand internal thread and an internal abutmenhftheforward end of vthe sleeve being slidably-and rotatably supported on the projecting end of the driving shaft, a rethe sleeve, a member carried by the sleeve and adapted Vfor engagement with the ywheel, a transmission Worm Worlfiiigy in the sleevethread and having ac` tral square aperture, a .transmission shafthaving a square ven'dslidably engaging the worm aperture and having a cylindrical end pro- -ijecting through the bearing, a spring supported by themotor driven member and the clutch member and adapted to throw the clutch member into e'ngagement with the spring inclosing the square end of the transmission shaft and bearing against the Worm and abutment, and manually operated means ing for throwing the clutch member. out of engagement With the motor driven member. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence .of two subscribing witnesses.

SYDNEY I. PRESCOTT Witnesses: FRANK H. Vick, Jr.,

.laines A; M CCANN.

9. The combinationwith a motor drivenA v member, of a driving shaft supporting, ro-

motor driven member and the clutch mem-s ed on the projecting endof the driving, shaft, a removable bearing secured at the worm working in the thread and-having a mission shafts to throw said clutch member movable bearing -secured at the `rear end of motor' driven member, a left-hand coil" adapted to engage the exterior of the bearl 

